Stories: https://www.google.ca/search?q=national+aboriginal+hockey+championshipsMale Team BC Wins 2016 National Aboriginal Hockey ChampionshipsMonday, May 9, 2016 – Team BC went undefeated this past week to take the national title at the 2016 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (2016 NAHC), held May 1-7 in Mississauga, Ontario. Team BC defeated Team North in the gold medal game held Saturday evening.

“We are so proud to bring the gold medal back home to BC,” said Head Coach Joe Quewezance. “The hard work, dedication, and the team dynamics were all incredible. Each year we are impressed by the number of young talented Aboriginal hockey players in BC. Once the team was selected, we were confident our team was going to be a strong contender.”

Team BC advanced from the round robin ranked first overall with convincing wins over Team Atlantic, Team Alberta, and Team North. In the quarterfinals, Team BC beat Saskatchewan 6-2, earning a spot in the semi-finals against Team Manitoba. The semi-final thriller ended when Duncan’s Keenan Eddy scored 2:00 minutes into overtime giving BC a 3-2 victory. The gold medal game featured a Team North rematch. Team BC dominated the game through an entire team effort both offensively and defensively resulting in an impressive 3-0 win.

Team BC – NAHC is a program of the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation & Physical Activity Partners Council (Partners Council) and sanctioned by BC Hockey. The program provides an opportunity for the Province’s top Midget age male and female Aboriginal hockey players to compete at the National Championships, which celebrates sport excellence as well as cultural unity and pride.

“This program is about more than elite hockey as it develops future leaders both on and off the ice,” noted Assistant Coach (and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief) Shane Gottfriedson. “This program is proof that investing in Aboriginal sport not only results in gold medals but also influences the way our communities see sport as a means for health and wellness.”

Other notable Team BC highlights from the 2016 NAHC included the female team’s fourth place finish. In the bronze medal game, they lost by a score of 2-1 in overtime against Manitoba. It was the female team’s best result in eight years. Team BC’s male defenseman Jeremy Gervais was awarded player of the game for the gold medal game; defenseman Austin Crossley was named a 2016 NAHC Tournament All-Star; and BC’s Jake Gudjonson was awarded Most Sportsmanlike.